Pluchak wakes up a bit groggy and stands up. He nods to Abbas as if what he was saying was perfectly normal and motions for Abbas to take his turn to rest. Then he sees Taedric sleeping and looks at Abbas and Aidan quizzically. "I don't see any goblins where you are pointing, Abbas. How tired are you?"

Abbas, wait; that is no bird. Rouse the others, Aidan says as he readies his sling. Tkurzhan rises at his brothers voice, his eyes better in the dark. He breathes deeply, tasting the air for danger.
Once the group is arisen, Aidan asks if any have a Sunrod; he says the name of the alchemical contrivance with barely veiled contempt.

Taedric pulls himself free of Trumps' furry warmth, his sleepy mind protesting a moment until the urgency of the alarm wakes him fully. He looks, wistfully, at his armour in its pack on the wolf's back, thinking, I really should get at least a jerkin to sleep in.

As the wolf rises, Taedric leaps upon its back and draws his bow, "What's the trouble?"

He mutters, "Can anyone tell me what I'm looking for?" He takes a breath and calls upon his innate magic to create four swirling balls of light, which he mentally directs outward, trying to locate the threat.

So far as Abbas' talk of a glowing woman, it is unfortunate that the man chose to drink on his first night with you all as the watchman. It is not a nice thing to think about the man, but in truth, what else could it be? At least he gave you more warning than you would have otherwise had.

A casual observer would say that Abbas was in charge of all the creatures in the area, for certainly as he shouts alarm, what had been a night only punctuated by a rhythmic squeking erupts into chaos!

Aidan launches a stone whose light makes visible something that you might wish it had not. Coming through the woods is a cart, 2 wheels much like the one that Abbas just lit in fire. The cart holds a black box (maybe it is a crude coach?, the back is not visible). One the black box ar 2 goblins, one holding the reins and driving the cart, and the other holdinga whip. And the beast pulling the cart? Your mind recoils. It looks like a large hideous man. He is bent with the weight of the cart, but he might stand 10 foot tall if he was upright. His body is extremely muscular, but his proportion are not right. He is yoked (in a fashion) and has blinders on and is being driven by the gleeful goblins on the box.

And this is not all. Taedric is able to throw swirling balls of light toward the left of your position the right hand side of the map in response to the woots and hollers coming from that side. There is the sound of movement many times over as something rushes your position.

It is hard not to think in this bleak instant, not, is how the herbalist died? But rather, is this how we are going to die?

Initiative please. It will be several hours before I can get a map out to you.

Seneca wakes from all of the commotion, "What in the nine hells is going on here?" When he hears Aidan's question, he responds "I say flee, but it sounds like they're here. We may not have a choice."Initiative1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Aidan steps into the firelight, taking a parchment from his belt and picking charcoal from the flame. He moves with a manic haste that wears off on Tkurzhan, whose tail whips side to side. The big cat bounds into the dark, hiding in the shadows of the fence.

Initiative as follows Taedric, creature 5, creature 2, Seneca, creature 4, creature 3, Aidan, Pluchak, Thurzhan, Abbas, and creature 1. Please go ahead and all post your actions. I do not think there will be much over lap in the first round. Good luck. Seriously!

Seneca moves to the doorway MM42 to look at what is going on. "What is that thing? And unfortunately, I'm nearly out of spells." he asks as he spies the creature pulling the cart. He begins putting his armor back on.
Knowledge (Religion)1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Small in stature not in spirit, the disciple of Umok's paladin is in perfect form. Danger faced, and he found the worstr bit of it and charged at that point. Not some meaningless sacrifice either but a real blow that could mean the difference on this dark night.

His lance bites deep and though the wound is not mortal, the spray of blood tells that this wound has severely injured the large creature! The great misformed man thing bellows unintelligibly.

The goblins on the back of the box are stunned for a moment and snap reins and crack whip to make the brute move on. And then the the air hums. And arrows start falling all over the place. None hit you, but there were easily more than a dozen and you still cannot even see the archers!

Seneca tries to get his armour on, but it becomes increasingly apparent that he may not make it in time.

And then from the dark on the side comes the source of the sound of rodentia. Your eyes try to make sense of them. Wolves, no dogs, no something worse. They look like a cross between a rat and a hairless dog. The lessons in zoology will have to wait though for they come snapping their jaws and will be upon you in a moment.

Aidan readies a spell. Pluchak stops for a moment to help Seneca with his armour before the other decides the task is futile. Thurzhan hides waiting for his next chance to shine. Abbaas arms himself, and then takes a moment to cover himself as well as he can so whatever is out there cannot break him.

The impaled man thing still has some will to fight, and despite the "encouragement from the goblins, he stops pulling the cart, and starts freeing himself from the yoke, breaking it and tearing it to get at the gnome. His eyes are full of hatred and Taedric can feel that foul intensity rolling of the creature like baleful waves.

Top of the order. I will try to get a map out tonight, but realistically I think it will be tomorrow first thing before I can. Great way to start the combat, Taedric!

Aidan hunches over the parchment, scrawling frantically with the charcoal before rummaging in his satchel and crumpling the paper around a small bud or shoot of sorts, tying a simple cinch around the parcel with practiced ease. A bird flies to his arm, and he begins to tie the parcel to the avian.
Tkurzhan's tail swishes back and forth, readying his full fury for the approach of the dog-rats.

I must confess I kinda wish the damage dice had loved me as much as the D20s did, but it's not too shabby, still.

The Ogre's rage makes Taedric smile as he releases his lance and pulls his lucerne hammer to strike the beast again before it recovers, and then directs Trumps to withdraw. He winces slightly as his haste in the attack causes only a glancing blow, but smiles as the wolf gracefully steps out of the monster's reach. He then heads away from the cottage, taunting the Ogre to follow him, hoping to upset the cart.

Keep in mind that a withdarw is a full round action. In this case it did not matter, the ogre is still trying to pull itself free and is not getting an AoO.

The gnomes luck holds and the large creature is struck again. The whipping goblin stands and moves to the back of the box, while the one with reins continues to snap them. The air hums again and again the heroes are spared arrows but out in the dark a voice curses in a tongue you cannot quite make out, and there is more movement in the leaves and sticks, not a few, and coming your way!

At last, and with great theatrics, the druid casts the little bird to the heavens, with a simple prayer to send it on its way. He scampers back into the cottage to retrieve his weapons, removing the great iron jaw from his brother's harness which lies in one corner of the sad cabin.
KK43

Things may change before it gets to Abbas, such as ratdog attacks but if that happens he will five foot step away before doing the following. Otherwise he will step forwards five feet.

Abbas nods at the ghost woman.

"I get it. That cart is dangerous. I'll go after this!" Abbas loads his bullet and spins the leather sling fast whirling it vertically towards the ogre. At the last second, he releases and aims for the creature's forehead as it struggles with the reins.

It is -- however, Trumps used his full round action to do just that -- and I assumed that would extend to the rider, since the mount handles all movement -- for instance, Taedric can make a full attack (with a bow) even if Trumps moves (or double-moves, or even runs, with the penalty).

Considering there's a whole class dedicated to mounted combat, you'd think the rules of how that interacts (as well as things like Bull Rush, etc. ) would be more clear..

Anyhow, as a result of that, I assumed that Trumps' withdraw action would also include not letting his rider get hit -- especially since a non-mounted Taedric could make a 5' step out of the Ogre's reach for free. If you disagree and believe that both Cavaliers *and* their mounts both need to do a withdraw action to get out, then I guess I'll live with it, but it seems like a lot of actions to get there.

(To be honest, I didn't even really consider it that deeply, just because in our home games, we've always allowed a mount to withdraw action in such a way to keep their rider safe so long as they only make a single move [as withdraw allows a double] -- but I'm certainly fine if you disagree -- I'll just not do it anymore.

Pluchak hustles out of the cottage. He can't be caught in there when his friends are fighting and out here. He feels more vulnerable without his armor but he hopes the numbers will be in his favor once they are able to take down a few of the rougher enemies. Move to NN45

From his new vantage point he spots the Ogre and sees a target that is possibly big enough to be hit. He takes a step and puts his whole posture into his spit. 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (11) - 4 = 71d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5Acid damage: Probably won't hit, but just in case

He tightens his grip on his long spear and waits for the beasts to rush them.

Pluchaks acid misses the ogre, but he is ready for the fight now. His confident sneer says, "Bring it on!"

Thurzhan has become a different creature, the mayhem making glee of his earlier incarnation is gone and now the cat waits for its chance, almost pensive.

It is abbas who suddenly shines though, for what Taedric solidly started the warrior finishes with a flourish. The ogre is struck in the head, and looks dumbly forward for a few moments, and then it remembers that is was going to kill Taedric, and lurches in that direction. Sudden left and unsteady beast of burden along with the weight of the load stress the left wheel and it snaps and the the cart falls at the same time the dumb brute does. Both the goblins are able to leap clear of the wreck though, and avoid being pinned or crushed.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 161d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Top to the order... Taedric, and then the goblins, creature 2 and Seneca.

Rushing this as it could be several hours or even a day before I can post again. Of course, it could be about half an hour or less, but better safe than late.
Aidan steps to MM41, placing a bear trap in MM40, covering it with loose gravel and grass, or a bedroll, or whatever debris is handy. I'll leave the depiction of this action to you, since you've a better idea what he'd cover it with and what will be going on in that moment.
If that action is proven unfeasible, Aidan uses guidance on whichever ally is nearest and attacking imminently. Tkurzhan is readied vs approach, so his action should trigger as the dogs reach deadly range.
He attacks one at a time, five-foot stepping between attacks if one falls. He should be targeting flatfooted; he may additionally gain a surprise round, I'm not sure. Surprise attack, if applicable: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Full Attack1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 101d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 51d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Seneca waits to fire his crossbow and darts diagonally across the yard in front of the rodent dogs. [QQ48] He stands and holds out his symbol of Asmodeus. "Turn back dogs!" Intimidate1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7Channel negative energy excluding Pluchak. Should catch the three to the east.1d6 ⇒ 2DC 11 Will save for half

Seneca moves with haste, his lack of armour does not seem to concern him. Calling on his dark patron, energy flows through him, and the rodent dogs feel the brunt of that. His sudden action catches them off guard and they all feel the full brunt of his faithful attack.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 101d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

The foul creatures turn all attention to Seneca, and attempt to prevent a repeat of his last action! A deadly situation is made merely bad, by Thurzhans rush at one of the creatures. He drops the one he attacks with little effort. They choose to focus on him instead of Seneca but both miss. A bit of good luck that you cannot count on to continue! The creatures do taste particularly foul though!

Meanwhile Aidan releases the bird he had been holding and turns his attention back to the fight. Weapons! and those are inside. Off he trots to retrieve them. Abbas follows him. The man is driven to some sort of distraction.

Pluchak and Thurzhan still have an action this round, and then we go back to the top.

Pluchak sees all the goblin dogs rush Seneca, and his blood starts to boil. He thrusts with his spear at one near his friend bellowing his own rage to take their attention, but his hands threaten to throw down the spear and tear the beasts apart.

Okay, I don't know what my distances are. So, this is the plan. If I have to move, I will move and use the spear just with the first attack. Looks like it won't hit, so I won't worry about damage. If I can five foot step and full attack I will do that instead with claws and bite. Personally, I know attacking with natural weapons could be bad, but Pluchak doesn't. We will see what happens there.

I rolled some damage for the spear in case I get an attack of opportunity.

Pluchak moves forward, and tries to impale one of the goblin dogs that beset Thurzhan, caution for the sabretooth hinders his aim though and he is unable to connect. Thurzhan has slightly better luck and though while he cannot fell the creature he hits he does cut it deeply.

Thurzhan has another Fort save to make.

I will have a map out later tonight. In the meantime you can wait or Taedric can go, your choice. :)